Summary: Teenagers who sleep less or experience frequent night awakenings are significantly more likely to attempt suicide later in adolescence, according to a major longitudinal study. Researchers analyzed data from…
Tag: brain development
Why Teenage Songs Define Us: The Science of Musical Memory
Summary: A global study reveals that our most emotionally resonant music tends to come from our teenage years—typically peaking around age 17. This “reminiscence bump” marks the period when our…
Child Abuse Leaves Lasting Biological Scars on the Brain and DNA
Summary: New research reveals that child maltreatment leaves measurable biological “scars” on DNA, altering brain structure and function. Using a genome-wide epigenetic analysis, scientists identified four key methylation sites—ATE1, SERPINB9P1,…
When Mom Struggles to Bond, Babies Sleep Worse
Summary: A large Finnish study has found that mothers who struggle to bond with their infants are more likely to have children with sleep problems that persist into toddlerhood. Difficulties…
Skin-to-Skin Contact Boosts Brain Development
Summary: Very preterm infants who received more skin-to-skin contact during their hospital stay showed stronger development in brain regions tied to stress and emotional regulation. Brain scans revealed that longer…
Early Clues to Autism and Schizophrenia Risk Found in DNA
Summary: Researchers have built a detailed map of DNA methylation changes in nearly 1,000 human brains from six weeks after conception to old age. The work reveals dramatic epigenetic shifts…
Fetal Movements Boost Maternal Attachment
Summary: A new study shows that fetal movement frequency in late pregnancy is directly tied to stronger maternal-fetal attachment. Using an actocardiograph, researchers objectively measured movements and found that higher…
